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There are several approaches to addiction treatment, ranging from one-on-one counseling sessions to 12-step programs to inpatient addiction services. Personality and the severity of the drug addiction dictate which approach is most suitable. One of the core principles behind addiction treatment is that each individual needs to find his or her own approach. Addiction treatment is not one-size-fits-all.

Addiction Treatment: The Greatest Motivator Is the Desire to Quit

Your attitude toward addiction treatment may have a greater impact on your chances of successful recovery than any other aspect of treatment.

“The most important component is the person being committed to changing,” said Alexandre B. Laudet, PhD, director of the Center for the Study of Addictions and Recovery at the National Development and Research Institutes in New York City.

Laudet said that the average lifespan for a person with an alcohol or drug addiction is 20 years from the time that person begins treatment. Most people attempt addiction treatment six or more times, numbers that underscore the importance of commitment on the patient's part.

“When you think of how resourceful addicts are to find drugs, find the money to use drugs, evade the police, and so on, if they were putting 10 percent of that resolve into getting better, they could change the world,” said Laudet.

According to Laudet, the ideal length of treatment would be 90 days, with about five years of follow-up support, usually in the form of a 12-step group such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Addiction Treatment: Counseling

One-on-one counseling is a good way to get started with addiction treatment because it can help addicts recognize problems with their behavior. Denial of how profoundly addiction affects your life is a barrier to addiction treatment, said Laudet. Counseling, which is a feature of all addiction programs, is successful if it includes motivational enhancement strategies, cognitive behavioral approaches, and a transition to a 12-step program.

Addiction Treatment: Medication for Drug Abuse

Addiction treatment for substances that create chemical dependencies, such as heroin or nicotine, may require medications that can prevent cravings or prevent the drug from creating a high sensation. These medications can also reduce or prevent withdrawal symptoms, allowing addicts to relearn healthy behaviors.

“For people to rebuild their lives, it’s easier if they are not dealing with all the side effects of the physical dependency,” observed Laudet, who said that, as with all medications, compliance is a big concern with anti-addiction drugs.

Addiction Treatment: Outpatient

If one-on-one counseling isn’t successful, then the patient may be referred to an outpatient program that offers both group and individual counseling, Laudet said.

The majority of addiction treatment occurs as outpatient treatment. Unfortunately, Laudet said, an estimated 21 million drug or alcohol addicts in the United States are not seeking any care, and about 60 percent of people in outpatient treatment drop out before completion.

Outpatient addiction treatment involves visiting a clinic or office regularly for individual counseling and group meetings. Depending on the program, other types of supportive services include medication, parenting classes, and job skills training, among others.

Addiction Treatment: Inpatient

Though inpatient addiction treatment is the least common form of addiction therapy used in the United States, it is thought to be the most appropriate approach for people with severe addictions. This is in large part due to the costs, said Laudet. Most health insurance programs in the United States require you to fail outpatient addiction treatment at least once and sometimes several times before it will cover the costs of inpatient treatment. And, of course, not all people with addictions have health insurance. Those who do enter inpatient treatment may stay up to a year in a residential facility that features a supportive atmosphere.

Addiction Treatment: Aftercare

Ongoing support is necessary for people to stay in recovery and not return to using, said Laudet. His research showed that treatment programs that provide help transitioning into 12-step groups offer the longest-lasting recovery statistics. Starting the 12-step program while in treatment, as well as being connected with a suitable support group or another member of the 12-step group, will make it more likely that a recovering addict will be able to abstain from using.

There is no way to sugarcoat the amount of effort that you will need to put into recovering from an addiction. But if you have the resolve to do it — arguably the single most important factor in kicking a habit — it's a journey worth starting as soon as possible.